what is being done to protect people in earthquake prone areas?

People that are living in earthquake prone areas have a strong sense of awareness of the possible disasters that could occur and are usually prepared. A lot of research has been conducted and the architecture in those areas is built to stand during an earthquake.
Engineers research to determine what types of buildings and structures are able to withstand an earthquake.
  • larger, taller buildings are more likely to stand then a 2-3 story building, as they're more flexible. Shorter buildings need a lot more reinforcment to withstand the pressure of an earthquake.
  • the materials used to build also make a difference to the building/structures resistance to an earthquake. Wood and steel have a greater flexibility than concrete or masonry.
  • Plates can be layered at the base of the building to allow a sliding movement during an earthquake, to provide a stable base for the stucture throughout the movement.
  • some structures are built to fail in a certain way during the movement